The Congress on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of failing to incorporate the viewpoints of the opposition in the Land Acquisition bill, accusing the government at the Centre of ‘fundamentally’ altering the elements of the ordinance.
BJP on Tuesday refuted the charge that the Land Acquisition Bill brought by the Narendra Modi government was "anti-farmer" and claimed that "long-term interests" of the agriculturists had been kept in mind while preparing the draft.
The party also defended the decision to go for the ordinance route pointing out that notification of the proposed Act by a certain date was a "Constitutional obligation".
"Opposition parties like Congress, Trinamool, Samajwadi Party and BSP have been carrying out a relentless campaign to create an impression that the ordinance is anti-farmer. We want to make it clear that contrary to their claims, the provisions in the ordinance will provide huge long-term benefits to the farmers of the country," BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh told reporters.
19:45 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Shiv Sena boycotts NDA meeting on land acquisition bill
Bharatiya Janata Party-ally in Centre and Maharashtra Shiv Sena on Tuesday boycotted NDA meeting on land acquisition bill.
"There is no question of supporting any legislation which goes against the interest of farmers," said Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray
Speaking to ANI, party leader Sanjay Raut said, "We have always talked in favor of farmers, we do want economic and industrial development in nation, but this is a nation of farmer."
He further added, "If farmers are opposing this ordinance, we must also take into consideration their views. We are with the government, but we are with the farmers as well, we want certain points to be reviewed."
19:37 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Land Acquisition Ordinance is ‘draconian’: Mamata Banerjee
Terming the Land Acquisition ordinance ‘draconian’, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre to withdraw it immediately.
The Chief Minister took to twitter to share her views with regards to the bill. “Immediately withdraw land ordinance. It is draconian. It will affect the farmers. We have always opposed this,” she posted.
19:00 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Land Acquisition bill: BJP not incorporating opposition viewpoint, says Congress
The Congress on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of failing to incorporate the viewpoints of the opposition in the Land Acquisition bill, accusing the government at the Centre of ‘fundamentally’ altering the elements of the ordinance.
“The government has agreed to talk to different opposition parties about the bill. The opposition parties want to incorporate their views in the new bill as well. But if they don’t talk and incorporate opposition party views, that would create problems. Therefore, there would be a problem [for the bill] to get passage in the Parliament,” said Congress leader Rajeev Shukla.
18:00 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Land Ordinance bill against the rights of farmers: Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar strongly opposed the Land Acquisition bill, which was introduced by government in the Parliament, adding that it is against the rights of the farmers.
“We all are a tough opponent of Land Acquisition Ordinance and we oppose this,” he told ANI here.
“This is against the farmers, against the poor and those living in rural areas,” he added.
He also supported the movement by veteran social activist Anna Hazare.
16:14 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
AAP launches ‘salt campaign’ to protest against Land Acquisition bill
Protesting against the Land Acquisition ordinance, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav presented packets of salt to all Members of the Parliament (MPs), stating that those in power should not forget the contributions of farmers.
“We are giving a packet of salt to all our MPs to remind them that they are here because of farmers and they must not betray the interest of the farmers,” Yadav told ANI here.
14:57 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Government not to remove 'secular', 'socialist' words from Constitution: Venkaiah Naidu
Opposition on Tuesday raised a hue and cry over a Union minister's call for a debate on the words 'secular and socialist' in the preamble of the Constitution but government ruled out any proposal to remove these words.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Jyotiraditya Scindia also sought to raise the controversial remarks about Mother Teresa by RSS Mohan Bhagwat but was dissallowed by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Scindia was supported by several opposition members. Read more
12:52 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Land Acquisition Bill has been tabled in the Lok Sabha. Opposition stages a walkout.
Soon after obituary references and listed papers laid on the table in Rajya Sabha, Anand Sharma (Cong) said Congress and three other parties have given a notice under rule 267 for suspension of the business as the government has bypassed Parliament to make changes in a law that was passed in 2013 through consensus of all parties including BJP. Defending the ordinance route, Finance Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said 639 ordinances had been promulgated since Independence, of which 80 per cent were under Congress rule.
As many as 70 ordinances were promulgated under first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and 18 under United Front, he said listing ordinances that were promulgated multiple times during the previous UPA regime.
"No law can be passed by by-passing Parliament," he said, adding a bill to convert the ordinance into an Act was listed for introduction in Lok Sabha and after it is passed in that House, it will be brought to the Upper House for discussion.
11:58 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
TMC leader Derek-o-Brien and CPI leader D Raja also heavily criticised the ordinance. Jairam Ramesh refutes the charges that last land ordinance was faulty. He says government hasn't done any one any favour.
11:39 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav slammed the government for using their brute majority to bring anti-farmer ordinances. Echoing the same line, BSP supremo Mayawati said that the land ordinance during UPA regime was implemented after detailed discussion. Hence according to Mayawati, government has done a mistake by changing the provisions of the ordinance.
11:25 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
As soon as Arun Jaitley started speaking, opposition was up in arms protesting against Land Acquisition Ordinance. Jaitley refuted the charge that government is trying to bypass the Parliament by bringing ordinance. He quoted statistics about number of ordinances brought by earstwhile governments. Deputy Leader of Opposition, Anand Sharma said that Parlaiment can't be expected to rubber stamp bills introduced by the government. He demanded the bill to be sent to the standing committee.
10:45 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
TMC which has been one of the vocal opponents of the government is likely to continue in the same vein.
10:15 IST Tuesday, 24 February 2015
BJP's Parliamentary Committee meeting is currently underway. According to sources, discussions are going on regarding possible amendments which may be made to the Land Acquisition Ordinance. PM Modi is attending the meet.
Congress leader of Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge has made it clear that they will oppose the bill when it is discussed.
The government on Tuesday will introduce the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Parliament to replace the Land Acquisition Ordinance. The bill will be introduced in Lok Sabha by Rural development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh. It will replace the ordinance promulgated by the government in December last year, which had brought changes in the earlier bill passed in 2013 by the UPA government.
The government had promulgated the ordinance making significant changes in the Land Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas -- industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.
There are indications that the government could revisit some of the provisions in the ordinance promulgated.
However, the party may not get the going smooth as united opposition is looking to protest against provision of ordinance. Congress have given a notice for suspension of Question Hour in Rajya Sabha to discuss the contentious measure, calling it "anti-farmer".
Deputy Leader of Congress in the Upper House Anand Sharma, who gave the notice under Rule 267 seeking suspension of the Question Hour and a discussion on the ordinance, said that the party cannot remain silent on this matter and is "bound to oppose" the measure. Sources in the party said that Congress has discussed the issue with the Left, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (U) to launch a "coordinated attack" on the government on the issue.
"It is a retrogade measure and destroys the national consensus on the issue. The government's intentions are questionable in this matter. It is against the interest of farmers and removes the safeguards against unncessary acquisition especially of multi-crop land, determination of public purpose and food security issues," Sharma said. He rued that the government is embarking on an ordinance route and undermining the national consensus on land issue at a time when the country is in an agrarian distress.
Meanwhile, setting in motion the process of replacing ordinances relating coal mines, e-rickshaws and FDI in insurance with fresh bills, the government has listed for the withdrawal of old bills in Rajya Sabha. Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal will move for withdrawal of these bills. The government is racing against time to convert the six ordinances into bills in the first part of the Budget session, which comes to an end on March 20.
The governemnt will also introduce a bill in Lok Sabha to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which will replace the ordinance promulgated on the issue recently.
With Agency inputs
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